Bingo odds and probabilities

Calculating the odds of winning at Bingo is no simple matter. There are multitude of factors to consider, such as the bingo game format that is being used.

Bingo cards

There are millions of bingo cards in circulation. When we say this, we talk of cards that do not contain the same number twice. Yet the odds are not dependent on this. Instead, they are a function of the number of cards distributed in a single game. Indeed, in bingo numbers continue to be drawn until a player wins the game.

Number of players in bingo

One golden rule to bear in mind is that the fewer players there are taking part in a game of bingo, the fewer cards there are in play. As a result, your chances of winning are better. Although the downside is that the fewer players there are, the lower your potential earnings will be.

How to win at Bingo

Bingo is a game of chance that is very similar to a game of lottery or Keno. Players have to predict the winning numbers previously checked on a card. Unlike the lottery, however, you don’t get to choose your numbers in bingo. Rather, they’re printed on the cards you purchase.

Although bingo remains a pure game of chance, there are a few steps a bingo player can take in an attempt to improve the odds of winning:

Try to play bingo with the lowest number of other players possible. If you intend play in a bingo hall, attempt to go on a day when fewer people are there. If you play online bingo, try to do so at times when few people will be online.

Play the most bingo cards your budget will allow per game. The more cards you have in a given round, the more likely you are to win. This tactic is particularly beneficial with online bingo in combination with “auto daub” that ensures you never miss a number.

A contradicting theory puts forward that the longer you play, the greater your chances of winning are. Therefore, it may be equally wise to purchase fewer bingo cards per game, and instead play for longer periods of time. The decision is yours.

Bingo game theory

Several researchers and scientists over the centuries have attempted to explain the secret behind bingo theory. Here are the two most popular theories:

Theory of Joseph Granville

According to Joseph Granville, a French mathematician, each bingo game obeys relatively easy mathematical models. It is only necessary to understand the relationship between the winning numbers and the numbers displayed on the panels. All you need do then is choose the right card.

So Granville’s theory goes, the distribution of numbers is uniform. This means that each ball has an equal chance of being called. Therefore in a game of 75-ball bingo, there is a probability of 1/75 that a given ball will be called. Do not forget that the cards have an equal number of odd and even numbers. and numbers ending in zero, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight and nine.

The theory of Tippet

English statistician Tippet has also studied bingo odds and probabilities closely. He observed the 75 numbers in the table, individually at first and also as a whole.

On this basis, Tippet was able to discover a mathematical law. According to this law, the higher the sample chosen, the closer it will be to the total value. In bingo, the average number is 38. During the course of a bingo game, it is noted that the randomly chosen numbers converge around the average. Therefore it is important that players take this into account when they are choosing their bingo cards.

Bingo!

We recommend that you should take into account our advice for improving your chances at bingo, whether you’re playing online or in a hall. The theories of Granville and Tippet may also help. However, online bingo remains a game of chance. Though the above points may improve your odds, they are by no means a guarantee of success.